Guide element for baseboard radiation

ABSTRACT

A guide element for baseboard radiation is provided that is interposed between the bottoms of the fins of the radiation heat transfer units and the supporting brackets to hold the units in place and permit them to move noiselessly lengthwise along the brackets during expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. The guide element has portions engaging the heat transfer units to impart stability.

United States Patent Bunten Dec. 18, 1973 GUIDE ELEMENT FOR BASEBOARDRADIATION Theodore M. Bunten, Rydal, Pa.

Repco Products Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed: Jan. 5, 1972 Appl. N0.: 215,586

Inventor:

Assignee:

U.S. Cl. 165/55, 165/68 Int. Cl. F24h 9/04 Field of Search 165/82, 55,67, 68,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Schlentner et al 165/82 PrimaryExaminer-Charles Sukalo Attorney-Gonda, Goldhammer & Panitch [57]ABSTRACT A guide element for baseboard radiation is provided that isinterposed between the bottoms of the fins of the radiation heattransfer units and the supporting brackets to hold the units in placeand permit them to move noiselessly lengthwise along the brackets duringexpansion and contraction due to temperature changes. The guide elementhas portions engaging the heat transfer units to impart stability.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GUIDE ELEMENT FOR BASEBOARD RADIATIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a guide element for baseboard radiation and more particularlyto a guide inter-v posed between the fins of the heat transfer units andthe mounting brackets for noiseless operation upon ex pansion andcontraction of the heat transfer units.

2. Description of the Prior Art Baseboard radiation units usuallyconsist of a thin elongated copper tube with a plurality of aluminumfins mounted thereon. The units are supported by brackets with metalshrouding surrounding them and with openings for air passage.

Upon a change in the temperature of the fluid circulating in te tube thetube expands or contracts and causes the fins or the tube to move ontheir support causing noise and wear of the plates and fins.

Guide elements previously available have been fabricated of metal whichdoes not obviate the noise. Guide elements have also been employed ofthin pieces of synthetic plastic material but these were not adequatelysupported.

The guide element of my invention is interposed between the fins and themounting plate and held with respect thereto to provide support andreduce noise attendant upon expansion and contraction as well asobviating the other disadvantages of the previously available guideelements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A guide element for baseboard radiation isprovided which has positive fin support and control permitting movementof the heat transfer units over the supporting brackets with minimumnoise and which element is engaged with the units.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a guide element forbaseboard radiation which provides silent operation. 2 l

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the guide element of the inventionready for installation;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 1 on a reduced scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a portion of abaseboard radiator on a reduced scale incorporating the structure of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a ve vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line4-4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the line 55of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximatelyon the line 66 of FIG. 5.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departi ng fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.-

DESCRIPTION OF THE-PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings and FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the guide element 10 asillustrated includes a base 11 of rectangular shape. The guide element10 is preferably molded in one piece of a material such as asbestosfilled polypropylene but any other suitable heat resistant material maybe used as desired provided it has a low coefficient of friction withrespect to the materials in engagement with it.

The base 11 has two side panels 12 and 14 of rectangular shape andconnected at one end by a panel 15 and at the other end by a panel 16.The side panels 12 and 14 are each provided with a longitudinal runner18 on the underside 19 which runner extends substantially the length ofthe panel.

The panel 16 has an upright bar 20 extending therealong with an uprightpost 21 at each end.

The panel 15 has an upright bar 25 thereon adjacent its rear edgesimilar to bar 20 and also provided with upright posts 21 at each end.

The rear panel 15 at the edge opposite to bar 25 has a positioning andtube engaging member 27 hingedly secured thereto by hinge 28, whichmember 27 may be swing to an upright position but when manufactured isformed such as by molding in the same plane as the base 11.

The tube engaging member 27 is U-shaped with a base 29 and arms 30 and31 extending therefrom, the arms being of rectangular configuration andhaving curved inwardly extending projections 32 at the end opposite thehinge 28 providing an interior opening 33 therebetween.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2 to 6, inclusive, a part of a baseboardradiator is illustrated with which the guide element 10 may be used.

The baseboard radiator is of well known type and includes an elongatedvertical wall panel 41, an integral top wall 42 extending forwardlytherefrom with a hooked upper edge 43 and an integral inclined bottomwall 44 with an integral forwardly extending flange 45.

The back wall panel 41 may be secured to the vertical wall of a room(not shown) by suitable fasteners (not shown) such as screws. Mountingbrackets 46 are provided, insertable in the engagement with the backpanel 41 at spaced locations and secured thereto as desired. Themounting brackets 46 as shown have rear 7 wall sections 47 disposedalong the vertical wall 41, in-

tegral upper inclined sections 48 with forwardly extending integralupper locking rims 49, and integral forwardly extending lower legs 50adapted to lie along the bottom wall 44 with their lower margins 51engaged on the flange 45. The brackets 46 are preferably fabricated ofsheet metal and are squeezed into place in the back panel andresiliently held therein.

The mounting brackets 46 may have extending forwardly from one sidemargin of the rear wall sections 47, an upper supporting arm 52 with aforward inclined margin 53 and curved top edge portion 54 and anintermediate slot 55 with a front supporting edge 56, a bottom margin 57and a rear supporting edge tongue 58.

The slot 55 with its edge 56, bottom margin 57 and tongue 58 serves forthe reception of an elongated damper and divider strip (not shown).

The mounting brackets 46 also each has a lower supporting arm 60 whichsupports an integral horizontal platform portion 61 at the forward edgeof which an upright flange 62 is provided. The flange 62 has ahorizontal bracket piece 63 extending therefrom from which a downwardlyextending holding tongue 64 extends.

The heat transfer units 70 can be of any desired type but preferablyinclude a central heating or cooling fluid conducting pipe or tube 71with a plurality of closely spaced vertical sheet metal fins 72 mountedthereon. The fins 72 are shown as rectangular in shape and at thelocations at which the brackets 46 have their platform portions 61directly therebelow, the guide elements are interposed therebetween. Thepositioning and tube engaging members 27 of the guide elements 10 aredisposed between fins 72 and engaged with the pipe or tube 71 with thepipe 71 in the opening 33 and the projections 32 above the pipe. Theposts 21 extend vertically upwardly between fins 72 and are restrainedtherebetween by side vertical portions 73 of the fins 72. The runners 18rest on the platform portions 61 and are free to move thereon inconjunction with longitudinal or sidewise movement of the heat transferunits 70 attendant upon expansion and contraction.

Elongated front panels 75 may be provided with lower vertical wallsections 76 having lower arcuate flanges 77 for engagement with theholding tongues 64.

The front panels 75 have upper inclined wall sections 78 for engagementwith the margin 53 and an upper arcuate flange 79 which hooks over thecurved top edge portion 54.

In the installation of the baseboard radiator the back panels 40 areinstalled first, and are secured to the walls of the room (not shown) byfasteners (not shown). The mounting brackets 46 are then snapped inplace with their rims 49 first engaged in hooked edge 43 and then theirlower margins 51 swung into engagement with the junction of the flanges45 and bottom walls 44.

The heat transfer units 70 are then put in place with the fins 72engaging the posts 21 and the member 27 extending vertically upwardlybetween two fins 72 and engaged with the pipe 71, with the projections32 engaging the pipe 71 and retaining the guide element thereon.

The heat transfer unit may be connected to adjacent heat transfer units70.

The front panels are then mounted in position by being hung first overthe top edges 54 and then snapped over the holding tongues 64.

The heat transfer units 70 and the guide elements are free to move alongand across platform portions 61 in accordance with expansion andcontraction due to temperature changes and with the movement occurringquietly and without scraping or squeeking noises.

I claim:

1. ln baseboard radiation having a supporting bracket and fluidconducting tube and spaced heat transfer fins on said tube, a guidemember interposed between said bracket and said fins, said guide memberhaving a portion disposed between a pair of fins and in restrainedrelation to the fluid conducting tube, said portion including a pair oflegs spaced apart at least a diameter of the fluid conducting tube, theends of said legs being in more closely spaced relation to hold saidportion onto the tube, and a base portion spanning a plurality of finsfor sliding engagement with said bracket.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said guide member is ofunitary construction and is of heat resistant synthetic plasticmaterial.

3. In baseboard radiation having a supporting bracket and fluidconducting tube and spaced heat transfer fins on said tube, a guidemember interposed between said bracket and said fins, said guide memberhaving a portion disposed between a pair of fins and in restrainedrelation to the fluid conducting tube, and a base portion spanning aplurality of fins for sliding engagement with said bracket, said baseportion being of hollow rectangular configuration and being horizontallydisposed, said base portion having on the bottom thereof a plurality ofrunners for engagement with said supporting bracket, and having aplurality of posts extending upwardly therefrom disposed between pairsof fins, and said base portion has a guide member extending upwardlytherefrom, said guide member having a plurality of spaced legs extendingupwardly above the fluid conducting tube providing for the reception ofthe fluid conducting tube therebetween, and the upper portions of saidlegs being shaped to hold said guide member against downward movement.

i i I

1. In baseboard radiation having a supporting bracket and fluidconducting tube and spaced heat transfer fins on said tube, a guidemember interposed between said bracket and said fins, said guide memberhaving a portion disposed between a pair of fins and in restrainedrelation to the fluid conducting tube, said portion including a pair oflegs spaced apart at least a diameter of the fluid conducting tube, theends of said legs being in more closely spaced relation to hold saidportion onto the tube, and a base portion spanning a plurality of finsfor sliding engagement with said bracket.
 2. The combination defined inclaim 1 in which said guide member is of unitary construction and is ofheat resistant synthetic plastic material.
 3. In baseboard radiationhaving a supporting bracket and fluid conducting tube and spaced heattransfer fins on said tube, a guide member interposed between saidbracket and said fins, said guide member having a portion disposedbetween a pair of fins and in restrained relation to the fluidconducting tube, and a base portion spanning a plurality of fins forsliding engagement with said bracket, said base portion being of hollowrectangular configuration and being horizontally disposed, said baseportion having on the bottom thereof a plurality of runners forengagement with said supporting bracket, and having a plurality of postsextending upwardly therefrom disposed between pairs of fins, and saidbase portion has a guide member extending upwardly therefrom, said guidemember having a plurality of spaced legs extending upwardly above thefluid conducting tube providing for the reception of the fluidconducting tube therebetween, and the upper portions of said legs beingshaped to hold said guide member against downward movement.